This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Secretary Mattis' ASEAN Informal Meetings
"Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met today with his ten ASEAN counterparts on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines to discuss mutual security challenges and our strong multilateral defense cooperation. They exchanged views on regional security, and Secretary Mattis emphasized the need for continued cooperation in the international community to apply greater diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to fully implement all U.N. Security Council resolutions. Meeting participants also emphasized the need for continued ASEAN unity to address…
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United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Defense Ministerial Meeting Joint Press Statement
"U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo convened the 9th Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting in Clark, Philippines on October 23 on the margins of the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus. During the meeting, they held substantive discussions on North Korea, the regional security situation, and deepening security cooperation. [...] The Ministers called on North Korea to abandon its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a…
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Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense Onodera
"Secretary Mattis reaffirmed that Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands and that the United States will continue to oppose any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan’s administration of these islands. Both Secretary Mattis and Minister Onodera expressed serious concern about the situation in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their opposition to unilateral coercive actions by claimants, including the reclamation and militarization of disputed features, which alter the status quo and increase tensions. Secretary Mattis and Minister Onodera…
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President Trump's Call with New Zealand Prime Minister-Designate Ardern
"President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister-Designate Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand to congratulate her on her recent election as prime minister. The two leaders underscored the importance of the bilateral partnership between the United States and New Zealand and pledged to continue close cooperation on the many priorities the two countries share."
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Media Availability With Secretary Mattis En Route to the Republic of the Philippines
"We will be participating, my party and I in the ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting. It will be an opportunity to recognize ASEAN now for 50 years of promoting peace and stability in the region. They have done a very good job of it. Nations coming of age, many years finding, finding, basically a foundation where they can discuss things. And it also marks 40 years of friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and the United States. [... ] ASEAN provides an international venue, giving voice to…
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Commerce Investigations Towards India and China
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) investigations to determine whether imports of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from the People’s Republic of China (China) and India are being dumped in the United States, and a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation to determine whether producers of PTFE resin in India are receiving alleged unfair subsidies."
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U.S. Department of Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty Investigations into China and India
"Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) investigations to determine whether imports of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from the People’s Republic of China (China) and India are being dumped in the United States, and a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation to determine whether producers of PTFE resin in India are receiving alleged unfair subsidies."
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U.S. Department of Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty Investigations of Imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan
"Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) investigations to determine whether imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea (Korea), Pakistan, and Taiwan are being dumped in the United States."
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President Trump's Interview with Forbes - North Korea
[Responding to a question about current policy towards North Korea and whether he had undermined Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's attempts at diplomacy] "There's not that much room left. There's not that much room left. Look, this should have been taken care of by four or five previous administrations. It certainly should have been taken care of over the last eight years. And every year makes it a more difficult situation. And right now, I mean President Obama told me--sitting right there, the two of…